Envelope-moistening and stam p-attach ing device



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- W. E. BROWN.

ENVELOPE MOISTENING AND STAMP ATTAGHING DEVICE.

No.1452,661. Patented May 19, 1891.

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ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '2.

W. E. BROWN. ENVELOPE MOISTENING AND STAMP ATTAGHING DEVICE.

No. 452,661. Patented May 19, 1891.

BY Mi f ATTORNEYS rue mums nuns cc, PHDMYNQ, WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVILLlAM E. BROXVN, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

ENVELOPE-MOISTENING AND STAMP-ATTACHING DEViCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0.'4=52,661, dated May 19, 1891.

Application filed December 6, 1890. Serial No. 373,750- (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. BROWN, of Kansas City, in the county of WVya-ndotte and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelope-Hoistening and Stamp-Attaching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to a combined envelope-moistening and stamp feeding, attaching, and detaching device; and it consists of a base carrying a moisteningsponge for dampening the corner of an envelope, a vertically-adjustable flap-moistening device for dampening the gummed flap of the envelope, a stamp carrying and feeding reel, and a swinging platform upon which the envelope rests when the stamp is fed and attached, said platform being adapted to be swung away from the base, whereby the attached stamp is detached from the adjoining one.

My invention consists, further, in certain detailsof construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4: is a section on line 4 4c of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a modification of thumb-whee1.

In thepractical embodiment of myinvention I employ asuitable base A, preferably square; but it may be of any desired size and shape, and near one side of the same, about midway its length, I produce a depression a, in which is inserted a sponge or other absorbent a, adapted to moisten one corner of the envelope. Vertical sockets a are produced at the opposite ends of the base, and in said sockets are inserted the vertical guiding-standards B, the inner or opposing faces of said standards havingthe dovetailed grooves 1) formed therein, extending the entire length of the same, and between said guiding-standards is arranged the moistening device 0, adapted to moisten the gummed flap of the envelope.

The moistening device 0 consists of a rectangular-shaped receptacle 0, adapted to hold a wick c and receive the moistening-liquid 0 The Wick c is first rolled and then placed 'fromthe base.

in the receptacle, the free or outer end overlapping the top of said receptacle and extending down the side of same below its bottom, as clearly shown. By this arrangement the liquid introduced into the receptacle will be absorbed by the wick and transmitted to the depending end by capillary force.

A cover 0" is adapted to be placed over the receptacle and overlapping wick, covering the receptacle and all of the wick except the portion projecting below the bottom of receptaole. The Wateris thus prevented from evaporating or spilling. Tongues c are also formed upon the ends of the cover, adapted to work in the dovetailed grooves 1), whereby the moistening device 0 is permitted to slide vertically between the vertical guiding-standards to and WVhen itis desired to moisten the gummed flap of theenvelope,the moisten or O is slid vertically upward,the flap laid upon the base beneath the same, and the moistener brought down upon the flap. At the same time that the flap is moistened the corner of the envelope is also moistened by resting above the moistener a. The envelope after being sealed is then ready to receive the stamp, and is accordingly moved to the stamp feeding, attaching, and detaching device D, secured to the'sidc of the frame adjacent to the moistener a. This stamp feeding, attaching, and detaching device D consists of a horizontal platform d and a vertical support secured to the forward end of said platform and depending therefrom,said support being composed of the standards d, arranged at opposite sides of the platform. A vertical hook d is also secured to one side of the platform, said hook being received in a vertical socket a, produced on the side of the base adjacent to the moistener a, and upon each side of the said socket are arranged the guide-plates (t which bear upon the adjacent standard d when the hook (I is in the socket a thus holding the platform (Z rigidly connected with the base.

A reel E is connected to the rigid platform (1 in any suitable manner, but preferably by being journaled between the arms 6, which arms are pivoted at their forward end to the forward end of the rigid platform. A ribbon e is carried upon this reel, the stamps being laid upon the said ribbon, which prevents them sticking together and insures their proper delivery.

A shaft or drum F is journaled between the standards (1, and upon said shaft ordrum is wound the ribbon from the reel, said ribbon passing over the forward end of the rigid platform. A thumbwheelf is secured upon the outer end of the shaft for the purpose of feeding the stamps, and by turning the wheel in the direction indicated the ribbon will be wound upon the shaft or drum F, unwound from the reel E, and passed over the end of the rigid platform, and the stamps upon said ribbon will feed along the platform and off at the end. A horizontally-swinging platform G is pivoted to the outer standard (1' at the forward end of the rigid platform, the upper face of the platform G being nearly flush with the upper face of the platform (1. The moistened corner of the envelope is laid upon the swinging platform, and as the ribbon passes down over the end of the rigid platform the stamp which it carries will be fed to the envelope, and after being pressed down the platform G is swung outward and the attached stamp severed from the adjoining one. A curved guide-plate H is secured at its forward end to the forward end of the rigid platform, the attached portion being arched, as shown, thereby forming a chute for the delivery of the ribbon and stamps. forward end of the plate II is also cut away, as at 71. The free end of the plate is curved upwardly and rests upon the ribbon roll, holding the ribbon compactly upon the reel.

The operation of myimproved device having been set forth in connection with the description of its construction, afurther description is unnecessary. If desired, a lever K may be made rigid to the outer end of the shaft or drum F and a pawl-and-ratchet device arranged in connection therewith, whereby the depression of the lever will rotate the shaft or drum the requisite amount to bring another stamp upon the swinging platform.

All of the parts of my device are detachable, which permits the device to be neatly packed in a small space.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a stamp-attaching device, the combination, with a rigid platform, of a reel arranged above the same adapted to carry a series of stamps, and a swingingplatform pivoted to one corner of the rigid platform and adapted to swing away from and out of alignment The with the rigid platform, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a stamp-attaching device, the combination, with a base having a moistener ar- 'angcd thereon, of a rigid platform attached to one side of the base and provided with a reel adapted to carry a series of stamps, and a swinging platform pivoted to the outer corner of the rigid platform, substantially as shown and described.

The combination, with a base, of vertical guides at each side of the same, a receptacle adapted to contain a wick and the moistening-liquid, the outer end of said wick overlapping the top and one side of the receptacle, and a cover adapted to fit over the receptacle and wick and en gage the vertical guide, substantially as and for the purpose described.

t. The combination, with a base having a moistener secured therein adapted to moisten the corner of an en velope,of the guiding-standards arranged at opposite sides of the base, an envelope-moistcning device arranged to slide vertically in said guiding-standards, a stamp-carrying reel arranged at one side of the base, and a platform upon which the envelope rests when the stamp is fed to the same. substantially as shown and described.

5. In a stamp-feedingdevice, the combination, with a reel carrying a ribbon, of a hori- Zontal platform over which the ribbon passes, a vertical support secured to the forward end of the platform and depending therefrom, a shaft journaled in said support and upon which the ribbon from the reel is wound, and a platform pivoted to the said support, substantially as and for the purpose described.

(3. An improved cnvelope-moistening and stamp-feeding device consisting of a base having a moistening-sponge secured therein, the vertical guiding standards, the envelopemoistener sliding therein, a horizontal plat form rigidly secured to one side of the base, a reel arranged thereon and carrying aribbon, a shaft arranged below the rigid platform and upon which the ribbon is wound, a hori zontally'swingin g plat-form pivoted to the forward end of the rigid platform, and a stampguiding plate, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM E. BROWN.

\l'itnesscs:

THOS. Fox, MAGGIE M. Fox. 

